Remember When

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Some of my best memories are from the 80’s and 90’s. If you grew up in this genre, I’m sure you can agree that they were some of the most fun and carefree times.

I feel so lucky to have grown up in that era before internet and cell phones. Life was easy! Maybe it was because I was a little kid with no responsibilities or maybe because it was a simpler time back then, in all actuality it is probably a combination of both. 

Take a trip back with me for a minute……

The music was EVERYTHING! 30 some odd years later I still vote, that is the greatest musical genre of all time!

What the 80’s meant for me, waking up before my parents and sneaking to watch MTV, because I was way too young to be allowed something that cool at that time. 

Watching Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love video and being mesmerized, all those women dancing along looking identical, all with the same somber look to their face…… why were they so mad?  And remembering how petrified I was of Madonna’s Like a Prayer video but yet I couldn’t turn away.

 A time where Care Bears were my life! But there was no way I was going to go a day without watching Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers. And I seriously considered Punky Brewster a good friend.

Can you feel the simplicity?  The simplicity of being a kid during that time?  Can you smell the smells and see the sights? Being so young, naive, and innocent made you feel optimistic about the world and your place in it.

When you are little ANYTHING seems possible.

Being apart of something epic when the “Hands Across America” movement was going on and getting to participate holding hands with strangers all up and down the highway.

Vividly remembering the smell of the rubbing alcohol right before the needle guns are held to my ears piercing them for the first time enduring the pain, and feeling so cool and grown.

Hiding under the covers as I watched Gremlins for the first time, knowing there is no way I could go to bed and not have nightmares.

Waking up on Christmas morning and opening a Nintendo game system and instantly becoming addicted to shooting ducks and jumping on mushrooms…. oh, and don’t forget about the power-ups…. dear God don’t forget about the power-ups!

Remember that feeling of accomplishment bringing home that Book IT certificate for your free personal pan at Pizza Hut……you know how many Berenstain Bear books a person has to read to accomplish that goal!

Being careful to space out your kids’ meals at Burger King just right to make sure you got all 3 different Chipmunks, but ending up with 2 Alvin’s and 1 Simon anyway.

Welcome to the ’90s

My wardrobe consisted of pink and purple which was upgraded to neon as we went into the 90’s.

Literally being stoked for Friday nights to watch all the TGIF shows.

Crimped hair and scrunchies were life, as well as learning how to tight roll jeans, and definitely, do not forget the slap bands…. now you’re looking fly!

Making sure not to go on any school field trip without your fanny pack.

Trading in the Care Bears and Rainbow Brite for a Furby and a Tamagotchi in the ’90s, while letting the Nintendo collect dust because you couldn’t pull yourself away from your Gameboy.

Being petrified of hearing Rescue 911 come on or Unsolved Mysteries and lying awake all night wondering where exactly the aliens are at that very moment and if they had a way to know you were thinking about them.

Listening to The Sign by Ace of Base over and over and over, but being sure to share the obsession with all the boy bands too (NSync for life!).

Writing actual paper notes and folding them up, with some secret origami skill you’re not exactly sure how you acquired, and passing them around.

Oh and don’t forget about the rollerskating rinks blasting all the good music while you fly around on your skates feeling invincible!

Ahhhh good times, good times.

These were some of the absolute best memories for me.

Can you remember?  Can you remember what it feels like to be young? To grow up in the 80’s and 90’s?

Share in the Nostalgia.

I know you have got your own memories…. let’s hear em! I would love to hear your own perspective of that time and what it meant to you, your obsessions, your dreams, as well as your obsessive memorabilia collections.